Practice Areas

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is proposing to make miscellaneous amendments to the Hazardous Materials Regulations to update and clarify certain regulatory requirements. PHMSA states that the proposed amendments are designed to promote safer transportation practices, address petitions for rulemaking, respond to National Transportation Safety Board safety recommendations, facilitate international commerce, make editorial corrections and simplify the regulations. Comments on the proposal are due no later than March 24.

The proposed changes include removing the packing group II designation for certain organic peroxides, self-reactive substances and explosives; incorporating requirements for trailers of manifolded acetylene cylinders; and providing requirements to allow for shipments of damaged wet electric batteries. This rule also proposes to revise the requirements for the packaging of nitric acid, testing of pressure relief devices on cargo tanks, and shipments of black or smokeless powder for small arms.